Rotary swivel



Jan. 9, 1951 A R, MAIER 2,537,683

ROTARY SWIVEL Filed Jan. 27, 1948 2 sheets-sheet 1 Fils- 2- g i! 4'/ a? Z i7 1N V EN TOR.'

Jan. 9, 1951 A. R. MAIER 2,537,683

ROTARY SWIVEL Filed Jan. 27, 194@ y 2 SheetsK-Sheet 2 FIGA- |=||3-E /Q /9\ 24.. 24g 0 17 10 N a 45 1 44 y 4Z, j

5./ FISE INVENTOR.'

Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE uornigwm.

August Maier, -il City,v Pa., assignor toui' Well Supply Company,

a corporation of New Application January 27, 1948, Serial No. 4,567

(Cl. Z55- 25) Claims.- 1

This invention relates to improvements in rotary swivels for well drilling equipment.

As understood in the well drilling art, the swivel is the mechanism which supports the drill string and itself is suspended from the traveling block in the derrick. The swivel furnishes both a bearing on which the drill string rotates and also an inlet by which iiuid mud is pumped through the drill string. Previous swivels with` which I am familiar comprise iive major parts, namely- (l) a stataionery housing,- (2) a tubular b'ody rotatably supported in. the housing and to which the drill string is attached, (3) a housing cap ixed to the housing, (4) a tubular goose neck iixed to the housing cap and to which the iluid inlet hose is connected, and (5) a tubular wash pipe furnishing a fluid conduit between the goose neck and the body.

In diierent swivel designs the wash pipe either may rotate with the body or remain stationary in the housing cap. In either design the wash pipe is surrounded by a lubricant-retaining packing and relative rotation takes place between the wash pipe and the packing. Therefore accurate concentricity must be maintained between the wash pipe and packing despite severe mechanical shocks and other rough treatment swivels sometimes receive. The wash pipe and its packing are the parts most subject to wear and must be most Vfrequently replaced; hence they are made relatively accessible for this purpose. In previous swivels with which I am familiar, the goose neck must be removed from the housing cap before the wash pipe can be removed. Since the goose neck is` ordinarily a heavy casting and carried a heavy inlet hose, the operation is very cumbersome.

An object of the present invention i's to provide rotary swivels which are of more rugged and simplified construction and of lighter weight and in which the wash pipe and packing are more easily accessible for insertion and removal than previous swivels with which I 'am familiar.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved rotary swivels in which two of the major parts, the housing cap and goose neck, are combined in a single integral piece, thereby furnishing a more compact and lighter weight structure and one less likely to be distorted by mechanical shocks.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved rotary swivels in which the washA pipe and packingare accessible for insertion and removal without disturbing the goose neck or its hose connection. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide improved rotary swivels having a shorter vertical dimension to provide maximum clearance inside the derrick thereby helping to avoid bending parts of the drill string when the latter is hoisted.

Further objects oi the invention are to provide as sub-combinations of a rotary swivel and improved integral part in which the housing cap and goose neck are combined, and alsoimproved wash pipes and packing preassembled as units.

In' accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, preferred forms of which are shown in. the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an improved rotary swivel embodying features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the irnproved rotary swivel taken substantially on line Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on an en'- larged scale showing the coupling for joining the wash pipe and body as employed in Figures l. and 2,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modied. coupling by which the wash pipe and body may be joined;

Figure 5 is a vertical 'sectional view of another modied coupling;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view 'ci a nec-diiied closure for the top of the housing cap; and

Figure 7 is avertical sectional view oi a 'further modied closure.

Referring more in detail to the drawings In Figures l and 2 there is shown a rotary swivel of the typev in which the wash pipe rotates and the packing is stationary. The swivel cornpries a housing I0 and a tubular body l2 rotatably suported in said housing on main bearings I3 and auxiliarybearings I4. rIhe walls of said housing have integral trunnions f5 about which a bail IS is pivotally' mounted. The lower end of body I2 supports the drill string and the swivel is suspended from a suitable hook that engages bail IG. The specific structure of' the elements thus far described does not perse form a part of the present invention; hence a more detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

Iii accordance with the present invention, the improved housing cap and goose neck are formed as an integralpiece, either a metal casting or forging. Said integral piece comprises a base l1, a pair of risers I8 upstanding from opposite edges of said base, a vertical bearing sleeve I9 carried by said risers and spaced above said base, a tubular goose neck integral with a side wall oi? said bearing sleeve, and an integral web 2| connecting the lower portion of said goose neck and the edge of said base. Base I1 is fixed to housing 1D by any suitable means, such as bolts 22, and preferably contains a grease port 23. A wash pipe 24 is coupled to the upper end of body l2 and is rotatably received in packing rings 25, which are stationary in said bearing sleeve.

The coupling which joins the wash pipe and body is accessible in the space between base l1 and bearing sleeve I9. Said coupling may be of any suitable design that enables the wash pipe to be rotated with the body and yet permits ready detachment; therefore I do not wish to be limited to any specific coupling,

In Figures 2 and 3 I have shown the coupling as including a nut 26 threadedly engaged with the top of body l2, the threads being of the opposite hand from the direction of rotation of the body. The bore of nut 29 carries a ring 21' which is freely rotatable therein and has interiorly directed interrupted flanges 28 which form a bayonet socket. The lower end of wash pipe 24 has exteriorally directed interrupted keys 29 insertable in the spaces between flanges 28 bayonet fashion. Rotation of ring 21 relative to the wash pipe places its flanges 2B over keys 29 on the wash pipe. Then tightening of nut 26 on body l2 locks the Wash pipe to the body.

Wash pipe 24 has a continuous exterior ilange 30 above the coupling means. A stung box bushing 3l is supported on flange 30 and the wash pipe rotates freely therein. Said bushing supports wash pipe packing rings 25, which may be of any conventional type. Above said packing rings the wash pipe is rotatably received in a combined stuiing box bushing and cage 32, which has an interior shoulder 33 near its lower end. The wash pipe, stuffing box bushing, packing rings and cage are preassembled as a unit and are anchored together by an arcuate wire spring 34 which is removably inserted in an exterior groove in the wash pipe near its upper end and abuts shoulder 33. The walls of cage 32 contain a plurality of ports 35 which are adjacent the outlet from the goose neck and through which fluid flows into the wash pipe.

The end of bearing sleeve I9 above goose neck 20 is open as indicated at 36 for axial insertion and removal of the wash pipe assembly Without disturbing the goose neck. A suitable removable closure is provided for covering this opening, but I do not wish to be limited to any specific design of closure. In Figures 1 and 2 I have shown the closure as including a plug 31 threaded into open end 36 of the sleeve. Preferably, though not necessarily, the plug has a central opening 38 for insertion of instruments into the drill string, such as described in claimed copending application Serial No. 29,207, filed May 26, 1948, by G. A. Ford, and assigned to the assignee of the present application. Opening 38 is of insuflicient size for the removal of the wash pipe assembly, and normally is closed by removable plug 39. Plug 31 is preferably locked to the housing cap by a pair of lock screws 4B. Preferably plug 31 has integral wings 4I, which may be bored as indicated at 42 to receive a suitable tool for rotating the plug.

In the modied coupling shown in Figure 4 the wash pipe has a continuous external flange 43 in place of the interrupted flanges. The upper end of the body has a counter-bore 44 which receives the lower end of the wash pipe, including flange 43. Above flange 43 the body has a pair of interior keyways which are situated within opposite sides of the body and are open to the outside at one end and slidably receive a key 45 of U- shaped outline. Beneath the key the body has a tapped opening for receiving a set screw 46 to lock the wash pipe in the body. To uncouple the wash pipe set screw 46 is loosened and key 45 withdrawn until it clears flange 43. The wash pipe assembly may then be lifted from the body.

In the modified coupling shown in Figure 5 a ring 41 is threadedly engaged with the upper end of the body and has a continuous inwardly projecting lip 48 at its upper edge. The lower face of said lip has a shoulder 49. Beneath said shoulder the ring is recessed as indicated at 50. The lower end of the wash pipe has a continuous flange 5I, the upper edge of which normally occupies the same plane as the upper edge of the body. A split ring 52, preferably formed of at least three segments, is received beneath lip 48 and rests on flange 49 and the upper edge of the body. When the parts are assembled, the segments of split ring 52 are placed within the recess of ring 41, either before or after this latter ring is partly threaded on body l2. After the wash pipe is inserted, any slender tool can be used for pushing these segments from the recess 50 onto the top of the body, the sides of ring 41 having apertures 41a for insertion of such a tool. When ring 41 is tightened against these segments, its lip 48 bears against them and they in turn bear against the upper faces of both body l2 and flange 5I. Thus, ring 41 and the segments of split ring 52 rigidly connect the wash pipe and body. To uncouple the wash pipe and body, ring 41 is loosened until shoulder 49 clears the upper edge of split ring 52. The ring segments may then be pushed into recess 50 and the wash pipe then lifted from the body.

In the modified closure for the housing cap shown in Figure 6 there is a bayonet type connection between the plug 53 and the housing cap 54, the design otherwise being the same as shown in Figures l and 2.

In modied form of the closure shown in Figure 7 the plug 55 is bolted to the housing cap 56 by bolts 51. Otherwise the construction is the same asin Figures l and 2.

In the rotary swivels described, two of the major parts, the goose neck and housing cap, are combined in a single integral piece, which is of lighter weight and more rugged than designs embodying separate pieces. The integral construction is also more compact, especially in the vertical direction, since the goose neck enters the side of the housing cap-rather than being secured to its top. Compactness is sought in swivel designs since vertical space within a derrick is at a premium and any saving facilitates operations. Better balance is attained, since the weight of the hose is carried closer to the trunnions about which the swivel is suspended. Mechanical shocks imparted to the improved swivel have less leverage to distort the concentricity of the wash pipe and its packing.

To remove the wash pipe assembly it is necessary only to uncouple the wash pipe from the body, remove the plug from the bearing sleeve, and lift out the assembly. It is not necessary to disturb the goose neck or hose connection in any way, as in previous swivels with which I am familiar.

While I have shown and described only certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is apparent that further modifications may arise. Therefore I do not wish to be limited by the disclosure set forth but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rotary swivel comprising a housing, a tubular body rotatably supported in said housing, a wash pipe, means detachably coupling said wash pipe at its lower end to the upper end of said body, an integral housing cap and goose neck, said integral housing cap and goose neck including a base xed to said housing, a pair of risers upstanding from said base, a vertical bearing sleeve carried by said risers and spaced above said base, said integral goose neck extending from a side wall of said bearing sleeve, and an integral web joining said goose neck kand said base, packing in said bearing sleeve rotatably receiving said wash pipe, the upper end of said bearing sleeve being open and the opening therein having a diameter at least as large as that of said packing, removable means closing said opening, and retaining means between said wash pipe and said packing holding them as a preassembled unit which is insertable and removable through the open upper end of Said bearing sleeve on removal of said closing means without disturbing said goose neck, said coupling means being accessible in the space between said bearing sleeve and said base.

2. A rotary swivel comprising a housing, a tubular body rotatably supported in said housing, a wash pipe, means detachably coupling said wash pipe at its lower end to the upper end of,k

said body, an integral housing cap and goose neck, said housing cap providing a bearing sleeve, packing rings stationary in said bearing sleeve and rotatably receiving said wash pipe, a cage at the top of said wash pipe adjacent the goose neck opening, the upper end of said bearing sleeve being open and the -opening therein having a diameter at least as large as that of said packing rings and said cage, and retaining means .between said wash pipe and said cage holding said wash pipe, said cage and said packing rings as a preassembled unit which is insertable and removable throughthe open upper end of said bearing sleeve without disturbing said goose neck, and removable means normally closing the upper end of said bearing sleeve.

3. A wash pipe assembly for rotary swivels comprising a tubular wash pipe, coupling means adjacent an end of said wash pipe, a flange on said wash pipe above said coupling means, a stuiiing box bushing received on said wash pipe above said flange, packing rings supported on said bushing, a combined cage and stuffing boX bushing received on said wash pipe above said packing rings, said wash pipe terminating in the lower portion of said cage, and means anchoring said cage to said wash pipe whereby the assembly can be handled as a preassembled unit.

4. A rotary swivel comprising a housing, a tubular body rotatably supported in said housing, a wash pipe, means detachably coupling said wash pipe at its lower end to the upper end of said body to rotate the Wash pipe with the body,

an integral housing cap and goose neck, said integral housing cap and goose neck including a base i'lXed to said housing, a pair of risers upstanding from said base, a vertical bearing sleeve carried by said risers and spaced above said base, said integral goose neck extending from a side wall of said bearing sleeve, and an integral web joining said goose neck and said base, packing in said bearing sleeve rotatably receiving said wash pipe, the upper end of said bearing sleeve being open and the opening therein having a diameter at least as large as that of said packing, a removable plug normally closing the upper end of said bearing sleeve, and retaining means between said wash pipe and said packing holding them as a preassembled unit which is insertable and removable through the open upper end of said bearing sleeve on removal of said plug without disturbing said goose neck, said coupling being accessible in the space between said sleeve and said base, thisl space having a shorter vertical dimension than said packing.

5. A rotary swivel comprising a housing, a tubular body rotatably supported in said housing, a wash pipe, means detachably coupling said wash pipe at its lower end to the upper end of said body to rotate the wash pipe with the body, an integral housing cap and goose neck, said integral housing cap and goose neck including a base xed to said housing, a pair of risers upstanding from said base, a vertical bearing sleeve carried by said risers and spaced above said base, said integral goose neck extending from a side wall of said bearing sleeve adjacent the upper end, and an integral web joining said goose neck and said base, packing in the lower portion of said bearing sleeve rotatably receiving said Wash pipe, a cage in the upper portion of said bearing sleeve opposite the juncture with said goose neck, the upper end of said bearing sleeve being open and the opening therein having a diameter at least as large as that of said packing and said cage, a removable plug normally closing the open upper end of said bearing sleeve, and retaining means between said wash pipe and said cage holding said wash pipe, said cage and said packing rings as a preassembled unit which is insertable and removable through the open upper end of said bearing sleeve on removal of said plug, said coupling means being accessible in the space between said bearing sleeve and said base, this space having a shorter vertical dimension thany said packing.

AUGUST R. MAIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,825 Morgan et al. Dec. 24, 1946 2,029,598 Timbs et al. I Feb. 4, 1936 2,082,010 Lane et al. 1 June 1, 1937 2,237,715 Shaw et al Apr. 8, 1941 2,459,472 Tremolada Jan. 18, 1949 

